Rafael Ortiz Jr.

RAFAEL (RALPH) G. ORTIZ, JR.
March 12, 1930-February 10, 2019

Rafael (Ralph) Ortiz, Jr, 88, a lifelong resident of Santa Fe, NM, went to his eternal rest on Sunday, February 10 while eating breakfast with his wife and son. Welcoming him to the breakfast table in Heaven are his parents, Rafael Sr. and Ruby Ortiz; granddaughter Josette Vigil, and sisters Margie Martinez and Nena Espinoza. He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Josefita (Josie) B. Ortiz; daughter Diana Mayes (Jim), daughter Marie Gladson (Dino), son Ralph David (the 3rd), daughter Susan Vigil (Ruben), son Patrick Ortiz, son Paul Timothy Ortiz (Julie), and son Gerald Ortiz; 13 grandchildren, Daniel (Erica), Lanna, Kenneth, Colleen (Matias), Tania, Jennifer, Jayla, Jessica, Ralph David (the 4th), Joshua (Monique), Zachary, Gerald Rey and Alexandria; 18 great grandchildren Isaiah, Adrianna, Christian, Sienna, Kaley, Reyanna, Jalynne, Champagne, Jenissa, Jelani, Lenayah, Adrian, Jacob, Alyssa, Juliet, Arianna, Samara, and Elijah; 2 great-great grandchildren Ila and Elias; sisters Tillie Montoya, Sophie Gonzales, Marina Benavidez, Josie Griego,and Lorrie Lujan; and brother Benny Ortiz; brother-in-law Jeo Martinez and brother-in-law and best friend Johnnie Armijo.
Serving as pallbearers will be Daniel Mayes, Jayla Ortiz, Joshua Vigil, Ralph David (4th), Gerald Rey Ortiz, Kenneth Mayes and Jacob Vigil.

Ralph’s life was filled with serving his family and country. Three months after graduating from Santa Fe High School, Ralph was activated with the National Guard into the Army during the Korean Conflict where he served honorably as a medic at Fort Bliss, Texas. Ralph worked numerous jobs throughout his career but retired from LANL after working there for 30 years. Ralph was proud of being a part of the Union de la Protectiva in which his dad was one of the founding fathers of the organization. He proudly served in all positions for the La Union Protectiva de Santa Fe including President for 10 years. He was also a member of the Woodmen of the World, which also helps our community in many ways.
One of Ralph’s pleasures was dancing. He loved to dance and, like his father before him, was very light on his feet when dancing. He loved dancing with his wife, however, much to her chagrin, he thought he was quite the ‘ladies’ man as he also loved dancing with his daughter, granddaughters, sisters, friends and any of the other ladies who would dance with him.
Ralph and Josie were always parenting children. They raised their seven children and then in their later years, raised 3 grandchildren and one great grandchild. Child rearing was something they did all their lives, and they often joked about “how raising children kept them younger”-or perhaps that’s how they’ve earned their wings for use in heaven.
A Rosary will be recited at 7:30 PM Monday, February 18, 2019 at St. Anne Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 am Tuesday, February 19, 2019 at St. Anne’s, followed by burial services with full military honors at the Santa Fe National Cemetery at 11:15 am. Tuesday.